Improvement in track-lifters



L'Gnnvn.

.Track-Lifte rs.

l- Patented Dec.17,1872.\

IIII

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD GROVER, OF HOMER, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRACK-Linens.

To all whom it may concern.-

` Beit known that I, LEONARD GRovEE, of

1 Homer, in the county of Calhoun and State ofMichi gan, have invented an Improved Track- The subject of this invention is an improved jack intended for use in lifting railroad tracks for purposes of repairing the road-bed. The

invention consists in. the combination, with a column or standard, of a screw carrying a foot f for supporting the track, and means for operating the screw; also, in the combination, with the hand-lever, of removable and revers`- jbleteeth loosely-fitting sockets in the lever; l also, in the construction'of the lever with a Vspade-like extension to be used in digging under the cross-ties so that the jack may be vplaced in position. I

In the drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of a track-lifter constructed according to my invention in position for operation, and Fig.

2-is a plan view of the lever detached.

l Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the two gures.

The deviceconsists essentially of a column Y or standard, A; a foot, B, for supporting the track; a screw, C, carrying the foot, and means 'for raising and lowering the screw. The column A is, preferably, made of iron, cast hollow, and is provided with a base, a, of suliicient area to afford a firm support. Within l, the column, and extending from the bottom to ai short distance above the top thereof, is placed a screw, C, which carries at its lowerend a projecting foot, B, the column having a long v vertical slot, which forms apassage and guides for the foot. The foot B is made in about the form shown, and is intended to support the track, as shown in the drawing. At the top of the column is a Bange, b, on which rests a f toothedwheel, D. .This wheel is formed with a hub or boss, c, threaded to correspond with the screwC.v Theteeth of the wheelD arebevn f-eled on one side, as shown. The hand-lever ,E is made with a large opening, d, so that it Y lloosely encircles the boss c and rests on the uwheel D. The lever is provided with open sockets e e, vin which are loosely fitted teeth f f. These teeth are removable and reversible,

. being made with one side straight and the other beveled. To prevent the teeth from being lost they are connected by chains j] gwth the lever. The lever E is constructed with a broad dat extension, h, which is intended to be used as a spade or shovel for digging under the track to form a cavity, into which the base of the jack and the foot are inserted. The end or edge of the Aspade is preferably beveled.

In the use of my invention the earth is eX- cavated from under the portion of the track which is sunken to permit the insertion of the foot of the jack, as illustrated in thepdrawin g. The lever is then placed upon the toothed wheel, and operated by the workman in the manner of a ratchet and pawl device, the operator standing in one position and alternate- 1y movin gthe lever toward and away from him, the teeth only catching in the former direction. The screw and foot being thus raised, the track is elevated to the desired height and supported until the repair is completed. To lower the screw and foot the teeth are reversed, and the lever operated as before.

.l am aware that a lifting-jack has been constructed with a removable and reversible tooth, and therefore Ido not claim this feature, broadly. This part of my invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement shownand described, and which I believe to be new. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The removable hand-lever, constructed to loosely encircle the hub of the toothed wheel, A

Witnesses:

J Annes H. CAMPBELL, JOHN C. Frrz GERALD. 

